844 Asiatic Society, [No. 1 1 8. 



The second contains the number of books which require to be rebound. With 

 regard to them I would observe, that though the expense of putting them into good 

 condition, may be considerable, the preservation of so many excellent works will 

 justify the outlay ; for should they be allowed to remain in their present state, most of 

 hem will soon be so far destroyed as to be of little or no service in the Library. 



Should the Committee resolve to have these books rebound, I would take the liberty 

 to suggest, that several respectable Book-binders be requested to send in their esti- 

 mates. I would also remark that, when books, requiring to be bound, are many, 

 as for instance in a Public Library, the prices ought to be something less than the 

 common rates. 



The rate for the binding of books, as fixed at present, appears too high, as the 

 accompanying list of the respective rates apparently shews. 



Wth August, 1841. I have the honour to remain. Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



E. ROER. 



Read report by Mr. Piddington, on the Cylinder found on the hills near Herat, 

 and presented to the Society by Major E. Pottinger, which the Secretary informed 

 the Meeting he would print in an early number of his Journal. 



Read letter of 1st September 1841, from Lieut. A. Cunningham, of which the 

 following is a copy : — 



My dear Tokens, Lucknow, \st September. 



The Silver Plate of which you have got 500 lithographed copies, appears to me to 

 represent most unquestionably the portrait of Sapor IL or Shahpuhr Zu'l Aktaf, or Zu'l 

 Aknaf;for in the list of the Sassanian Kings, whose dresses are described in the 

 Majmul-ut-ToivariJch, I find that he is the only one who has a crescent on his crown. 

 His dress is thus detailed, a rose coloured tunic; red pantaloons ; a crown of blue and 

 gold, embroidered in different colours, surrounded by two circles of gold, and ornament- 

 ed with an embroidered crescent. 



Do you think then thdit 2^u' I- Afkun, or "Lord of the Lion," might be substituted for 

 2^u'l-Akta'f, " Lord of the shoulders"; and ^u'l-Akna'f, " Lord of the wings ?" 

 The last of these is supported by the wings, which appear on the head-dress of so many 

 of the Sassanian Princes? 



Yours sincerely, 



A. Cunningham. 

 For the Contributions and Presentations thanks were accorded. 



